In second vote, Salem councilors pass 'Sanctuary for Peace' ordinance

The Salem City Council has officially made the city of peace a “Sanctuary for Peace” – even as opponents seek signatures on a petition that could land the matter on the Nov. 7 ballot.

The second-passage vote had the same results as the ordinance's first-passage vote last month: Councilors Stephen Lovely, Elaine Milo, Arthur Sargent and Jerry Ryan voted in dissent, and Heather Famico, Beth Gerard, Thomas Fury, Stephen Dibble, David Eppley, Josh Turiel and Robert McCarthy in the affirmative.

The ordinance’s bare bones affirms Salem’s values on immigration, codifies existing policies and provides "guidance to city employees on protecting all residents’ access to police protection and public services,” the document reads.

The group against the ordinance must gather 3,543 signatures from Salem registered voters within a 20-day window after the council votes on final passage, according to Salem City Clerk Cheryl LaPointe. The group is acting on a citizen’s right to petition Salem’s City Council or the School Committee to rescind actions members take – as outlined in the Salem City Charter.

Once they turn over the completed petition, and the voters’ signatures check out, the charter demands that the council “shall immediately reconsider” the measure petitioners are protesting. In this case, that's the Sanctuary for Peace ordinance.

If the council decides not to rescind, the petition becomes a referendum. Voters, in return, would weigh in on the ordinance via a Nov. 7 ballot question, and they could either veto the council’s vote or keep it in place.

The ordinance was, in part, created in direct response to President Donald Trump's aggressive targeting of undocumented immigrants – both in his campaign rhetoric and actions since gaining the Oval Office. His focus on cracking down on undocumented immigrants has instilled fear in many immigrants – which the ordinance seeks to address, Mayor Kim Driscoll has said.

“What message do we send to our young people – I taught for 40 years and adopted five sons,” said Furey. “I strongly disagree with any change tonight – no vote should change.”

His remarks came as the council debated for nearly an hour about a clause in the ordinance with the word “shall” – and whether it directed the Salem Police Department how to do its job. Furey became so impassioned he said the matter should be simply a "yes" or "no" vote.

Eppley, perhaps the council member most vocally in support of the ordinance, said he felt the council was on “the right side of history.” He expressed a faith that if the ordinance lands on the ballot, voters would affirm the council’s vote.

The second-passage vote also came after the council heard testimony from more than a half-dozen citizens and officials on both sides of the issue.

“What you do tonight matters. Move the ordinance forward,” said resident Scott Steinberg, adding that he had “never felt more proud of Salem than the night of first passage.”

Many who spoke against pointed to higher taxes because of the potential loss of federal funds under a Trump executive order, and putting a target on undocumented immigrants’ backs as reasons not to pass the ordinance.

Sargent made clear where he stood, saying the city of Salem was already a sanctuary.

“We’ve always helped each other,” he said. “If you didn’t know that, you haven’t been here long enough.”